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EPL: Brighton defeat big lesson for Arsenal, says Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta describes the 3-0 defeat by Brighton as a 'big lesson' after the Premier League champions suffered their first loss of the sea
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Sports
September 19, 2026 7:52 pm
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 11, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
By Tosin Oyediran
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by Brighton as a “big lesson” for the Premier League champions after they suffered their first loss of the season.
Brighton dominated from the start at the Amex Stadium, with Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas scoring long-range goals before half-time.
Chema Andres then headed in a third from a corner early in the second half as Arsenal suffered their heaviest defeat in more than three years.
“Extremely disappointed. First of all I think we have to congratulate Brighton for the victory, I think they deserve it,” said Arteta.
“I think they were the better team. From our side there were certain basics that you need to accomplish in football, especially in the Premier League, that we were very far from.”
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Arsenal had been tipped to cruise to the title after ending their 22-year wait to be crowned champions of England last season.
• EPL: Arsenal suffer first defeat of season as Brighton win 3-0
• EPL: Tottenham score first goals of season but lose 3-2 to Villa
• Hurzeler tips Azeez for Brighton chance after break
The Gunners had also made a strong start to the new campaign, winning all seven of their previous matches in all competitions before the defeat at Brighton.
However, Arteta said the result was a timely reminder of the demands of the season ahead of a three-week international break.
“It’s a big lesson for us,” added the Spaniard.
“That’s not going to take away what the team has done and the boys have done in the last six or seven weeks since coming back from the World Cup.
“With 18 players coming back, what we’ve done and the way we’ve competed and the amount of games we’ve won has been remarkable.
“But this is a big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level.”
Tosin Oyediran
Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.
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All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
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Sports
September 19, 2026 7:52 pm
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 11, 2026. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)
By Tosin Oyediran
Kindly share this story:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described Saturday’s 3-0 defeat by Brighton as a “big lesson” for the Premier League champions after they suffered their first loss of the season.
Brighton dominated from the start at the Amex Stadium, with Pascal Gross and Charalampos Kostoulas scoring long-range goals before half-time.
Chema Andres then headed in a third from a corner early in the second half as Arsenal suffered their heaviest defeat in more than three years.
“Extremely disappointed. First of all I think we have to congratulate Brighton for the victory, I think they deserve it,” said Arteta.
“I think they were the better team. From our side there were certain basics that you need to accomplish in football, especially in the Premier League, that we were very far from.”
See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google
Arsenal had been tipped to cruise to the title after ending their 22-year wait to be crowned champions of England last season.
• EPL: Arsenal suffer first defeat of season as Brighton win 3-0
• EPL: Tottenham score first goals of season but lose 3-2 to Villa
• Hurzeler tips Azeez for Brighton chance after break
The Gunners had also made a strong start to the new campaign, winning all seven of their previous matches in all competitions before the defeat at Brighton.
However, Arteta said the result was a timely reminder of the demands of the season ahead of a three-week international break.
“It’s a big lesson for us,” added the Spaniard.
“That’s not going to take away what the team has done and the boys have done in the last six or seven weeks since coming back from the World Cup.
“With 18 players coming back, what we’ve done and the way we’ve competed and the amount of games we’ve won has been remarkable.
“But this is a big lesson for all of us to understand what it takes to win at this level.”
Tosin Oyediran
Tosin Oyediran is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of professional experience in reporting and storytelling. He is known for conducting incisive interviews and producing compelling human-angle stories that bring clarity and depth to the news. Tosin covers a broad range of beats including politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment, with a strong focus on people-centred reporting. His work reflects firsthand newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a commitment to accurate, engaging, and trustworthy journalism.
Kindly share this story:
•
•
•
•
•
•
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google
Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!
Join The Punch Newspapers Channel
Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.
Get the Punch News App
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